Dynamic routing-administration

ABSTRACT

Choice of what portions of a dialed number are important and what weight they carry in deciding how to route or otherwise treat a call is customized and made contextually dependent via a call-processing arrangement (200) that uses stored definitions of syntax (320, 350) and grammar (400, 410) of the network numbering plan. The syntax definitions are reprogrammable definitions (312) of individual symbol strings and include the string&#39;s associated virtual nodepoint index (VNI 334) which indicates the string&#39;s influence on call treatment, an indicator (335) of whether digit collection is to continue, an indicator (339) of whether the VNI is to be combined with a VNI resulting from any preceding symbol strings in the dialed number, and an indicator (338) of whether the VNI resulting from this symbol string is to be combined with a VNI of any succeeding symbol strings in the dialed number. The dialed number is parsed (340) to identify therein all included symbol strings, and the definitions of the included symbol strings are used to selectively combine (341) their VNIs to form a resulting VNI that specifies the route or other treatment for the call.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

F. J. Bogart, B. D. Butterfield, D. L. Chavez, Jr., H. C. Dittmer, F. R. Fix, L. J. Hardouin, N. K. Schmidt, and L. L. Thomson, "Telecommunications Call-Processing Arrangement", Ser. No. 07/786,167;

F. J. Bogart, B. D. Butterfield, D. L. Chavez, Jr., H. C. Dittmer, F. R. Fix, L. J. Hardouin, N. K. Schmidt, and L. L. Thomson, "Dynamic Tone-Administration, Ser. No. 07/786,324;

F. J. Bogart, B. D. Butterfield, D. L. Chavez, Jr., H. C. Dittmer, F. R. Fix, L. J. Hardouin, N. K. Schmidt, and L. L. Thomson, "Dialed Number Recognition Arrangement, Ser. No. 07/786,325;

F. J. Bogart, B. D. Butterfield, D. L. Chavez, Jr., H. C. Dittmer, F. R. Fix, L. J. Hardouin, N. K. Schmidt, and L. L. Thomson, "Use-Code Based Call-Treatment Selection, Ser. No. 07/786,163; and

F. J. Bogart, B. D. Butterfield, D. L. Chavez, Jr., H. C. Dittmer, F. R. Fix, L. J. Hardouin, N. K. Schmidt, and L. L. Thomson, "Context-Dependent Call-Feature Selection, Ser. No. 07/786,323.

These applications are filed concurrently with this application and are assigned to the same assignee.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to telephone and telephone-like communications systems including integrated services systems, and relates particularly to telephony call-processing arrangements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telephony call-processing arrangements of conventional telephony switching systems implement a fixed hierarchical call-routing structure wherein the initial digits of a dialed (called) number determine selection of a route (e.g., a trunk group) or a set of routes for the call, and where subsequent digits are at best determinative of a route within the initially-selected set of routes.

As an example, consider the telephone number "538-4154". A central office switching system receiving this dialed number from a caller will normally route the call based on the first three digits "538"--over an inter-office trunk group corresponding to the office code "538" if the receiving switching system is not office 538, or over local telephone lines if the receiving office is office 538. In the former case, the receiving office will ignore the extension "4154" in its route selection; in the latter case, the receiving office will use the extension to select one of the local telephone lines. Now prepend a remote area code to that number, say 303, to produce the dialed number "303-538-4154". The receiving office will now typically route the call based on the first six digits "303-538" over an inter-office trunk group corresponding to the number "303-538" if it has such a direct inter-office trunk group available, and will route the call on the first three digits "303" over a tandem-office trunk group otherwise. In the former case, the receiving office will ignore the 4-digit extension "4154" in its route selection; in the latter case, it will ignore the 7-digit number "538-4154". Now prepend an inter-exchange carrier I.D. code to that number, say "10288", to produce the dialed number "10288-303-538-4154". The receiving office will now generally route the call based on the first five digits "10288" over a trunk group leading to the identified inter-exchange carrier, and will ignore the 10-digit number 303-538 -4154 in its route selection.

This hierarchical call-routing structure is designed into conventional call-processing arrangements of known telephony switching systems and is immutable, with few exceptions. For example, it is often possible on a conventional switching system to block all of a caller's calls to numbers having "900" as the area-code digits by routing all such calls to an intercept announcement, irrespective of what other digits, if any, may have been dialed prior to the area code. However, such exceptions are few and are limited in their scope and selectivity.

But what if, for example, it is desired that all toll calls having an inter-exchange carrier I.D. code of 10288 should route via routing pattern preference (a trunk-group specifier) 17; however, all calls to area code 303 should route via routing pattern preference 18, unless the carrier I.D. code 10333 preceded that area code, in which case the call should route via routing pattern preference 19; however, if the dialed number has 303-555-1212 as its last 10 digits then the call should always be routed to the local operator? For clarity, the requirements of this hypothetical are summarized in the following Table A.

                  TABLE A                                                          ______________________________________                                                          ROUTING                                                       DIALED NUMBER    PATTERN PREFERENCE                                            ______________________________________                                         10288-XXX-XXX-XXXX                                                                              17                                                            XXXXX-303-XXX-XXXX                                                                              18                                                            10333-303-XXX-XXXX                                                                              19                                                            XXXXX-303-555-1212                                                                              99                                                            ______________________________________                                          NOTE: X means any digit, but for the defined exceptions                  

Known switching systems' call-processing arrangements are not able to accommodate such a call-routing structure.

Many switching-system owners (e.g., private-party owners of PBXs, public-network owners of central office switches) find this limitation unsatisfactory. They often desire to be able to choose what is important in a dialed number in deciding how to route the call. But, with the few exceptions alluded-to above, present-day call-processing arrangements do not allow them such choice. At best, such owners are able to fund custom developments, where switching system manufacturers develop for them new call-processing arrangements that have designed into them the individual customer's present route-selection criteria. But such arrangements must be developed separately for each customer's individual criteria, and are generally no more flexible in being able to accommodate future changes to these criteria than are the standard call-processing arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to solving these and other disadvantages of the prior art. Generally according to the invention, a call-processing arrangement has an administrable capability to route a call based on any selected one or more portions (e.g., digits, symbol strings) of a dialed number (i.e., a call-control symbol-stream), and to do so in a contextually-dependent manner such that the route-determinative portions of the dialed number and/or their degree of influence on route selection may vary depending upon which portions are either included in or absent from the dialed number. The call-processing arrangement thereby enables a system administrator to specify what is and is not important for call-routing purposes in any and every dialed number of a network numbering plan. This capability is not limited to call-route selection, but may be applied as well to the selection of other types of call treatment, such as call-feature selection.

Specifically according to the invention, in an environment wherein call-control symbol-sequences for calls include a plurality of symbol strings and each individual included symbol string has a context formed by others of the included symbol strings, there is provided a call-processing arrangement which has stored information about the symbol strings that defines each symbol string's influence on call treatment within its context of other symbol strings. The call-processing arrangement identifies the individual included symbol strings and their contexts within a received call-control symbol-sequence. It then uses the identities and the contexts of the individual included symbol strings to determine (e.g., to find and retrieve) from the stored information the influences of the individual included symbol strings on call treatment of the call. Finally, the arrangement combines the determined influences of the included symbol strings to define a treatment to be given to the call. The determined influences thereby jointly define the treatment that the call is to receive. The stored information is preferably stored in programmed reprogrammable storage means, so that a system administrator can individually define, tailor, and change the symbol string's influences on call treatment at will. Illustratively, the stored information includes, for each string, information defining the symbol string's context-independent influence on call treatment, such as a virtual nodepoint index (VNI), plus information defining whether the symbol string's context-independent influence is to be combined with the influence of at least one of a preceding and a succeeding symbol string within a call-control symbol-sequence. The defined context-independent influences of the strings that are included in a received symbol sequence are then selectively combined as dictated for the included strings by the stored information, thereby producing a joint influence (a resulting VNI, for example) that defines the call treatment to be given to the call.

By means of this invention, switching-system owners are enabled to individually choose what is important in a dialed number in deciding how to route or treat a call, and to change their choices at will. The invention imposes substantially no limitation on the owners' choices--complex and irregular call-routing structures, such as the illustrative one presented above, become implementable with ease.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative example of the invention taken together with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone system that incorporates an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the convention of a network numbering plan of the telephone system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of selected contents of the memory of the switching system of the telephone system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4-6 are block diagrams of syntax-defining data structures of network digit analysis of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7-8 are block diagrams of grammar-defining data structures of network digit analysis of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 9-12 are a flow diagram of a string identification function of network digit analysis of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a string action function of network digit analysis of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a data structure of digit modification of FIG. 3;

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of a function of digit modification of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 16-18 are block diagrams of data structures of generalized route selection of FIG. 3;

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of a function of generalized route selection of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 20-21 are block diagrams of data structures of digit sending of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of a function of digit sending of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is implemented in a telecommunications system shown in FIG. 1. The system of FIG. 1 is a telephone system that includes a switching system 10 which provides telephone services to user terminals 17 which are connected to switching system 10 by telephone lines 15. Switching system 10 interconnects terminals 17 with each other and with the remainder of the telephone system, designated in FIG. 1 as network 18, to which the switching system 10 is connected by telephone trunks 16. Network 18 typically comprises one or more other switching systems 10 and user terminals 17.

The telephone system of FIG. 1 implements one or more network numbering plans. Network numbering plans are well known in the art. An illustrative example thereof is the North American network numbering plan of the North American public telephone system. A network numbering plan is a convention that allows users to use symbols (e.g. dialed digits) to define to the network the treatment that they wish a call to receive. The generic characteristics of network numbering plans are graphically illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, a network numbering plan 100 is composed of a plurality of defined symbol strings 101-150. Each defined symbol string consists of one or more symbols, and has a defined meaning. Illustrative examples of symbol strings are: area codes, office codes, extension numbers, long distance carrier codes, and feature specification codes. The defined symbol strings are building blocks from which symbol sequences 151-199--e.g., network numbers, dialed numbers--are constructed. Each valid symbol sequence consists of one or more defined symbol strings, and has a meaning within the network numbering plan. A symbol sequence defines the treatment that a corresponding call is to receive. If a symbol sequence is valid (i.e., does not violate the definitions of its constituent symbol strings and their permissible contexts) it is said to be included in the network numbering plan.

Conventionally in a network such as that shown in FIG. 1, a switching system such as system 10 would understand only one numbering plan, which is used in the portion of the system of FIG. 1 that it is a part of. The switching system would transport signals pertaining to other numbering plans, used in other portions of the system of FIG. 1, to those portions for their use through communication paths that it would establish on the basis of its own numbering plan.

Switching system 10 is a stored-program controlled system, such as the AT&T Definity® G2 PBX. It comprises a conventional switching fabric 13, a processor 11 for controlling the operation of fabric 13, and a memory 12 for storing programs for execution and data for use by processor 11 in performing its control functions. It further comprises conventional service circuits 14--such as dialed-digit collection registers, outpulsing circuits, tone generators, etc.--also operating under control of processor 11 and connected to fabric 13 for use in setting up call connections and providing call features and other telecommunications services to user terminals 17.

Contents of memory 12 that are relevant to this discussion are shown in FIG. 3. Most of the programs and data structures held by memory 12 are conventional. These include an outpulsed signal-collection program module 201, a connection-establishment program module 202, a time-of-day program 203, translations and status 204 for, e.g., trunks 16, lines 15, and terminals 17, feature program modules 205, and a scratchpad memory portion 250 for holding call records 271 of individual calls. However, according to the invention, there is provided a new call-processing arrangement, referred to as world-class-routing (WCR) 200, which translates user-provided call-destination addresses or feature-selection codes--digits and other symbols that are received across telephone lines 15 from user terminals 17 or across trunks 16 from other switching systems--into call routes and feature-access connections for establishment by switching fabric 13 and network 18 and provisioning by modules 205 and circuits 14. World-class routing 200 receives, as its input, symbol-representing signals that have been outpulsed at a terminal 17 or at the other end of a trunk 16 and collected by a conventional outpulsed signal-collection module 201. It transforms the received signals into route-identifying, feature-identifying, and other connection-identifying and function-identifying information and into destination-identifying outpulsed digits, and sends these as its output to, e.g., a conventional connection-establishment program 202 or a feature module 205.

World-class-routing 200 implements the concept of a network numbering plan as being a language, in the mathematical/computer science sense. As such, world-class routing 200 defines any network numbering plan in terms of a grammar and a syntax of symbol strings that constitute the network numbering plan, and derives meaning from sequences of symbols received over lines 15 and trunks 16 by parsing those symbol sequences and analyzing the parsed symbol sequences through use of the defined grammar and syntax. Consequently, through the expedient of redefining the grammar and/or the syntax, world-class-routing 200 modifies or redefines the existing numbering plan or adapts to a totally different numbering plan.

World-class routing 200 has a modular construction, and comprises four self-contained but cooperating modules: a network digit analysis (NDA) module 210, shown in FIGS. 4-13; a generalized route-selection (GRS) module 220, shown in FIGS. 16-19; a digit-modification (DM) module 230, shown in FIGS. 14-15; and a digit-sending (DS) module 240, shown in FIGS. 20-22. Briefly, world-class routing 200 functions as follows.

Network digit analysis 210 implements the syntax and grammar of one or more network numbering plans. It functions as a parser and analyzer of received symbol sequences received from outpulsed signal-collection program 201, and uses the syntax and grammar to perform the parsing and analysis functions. Hereinafter, for convenience, the symbols are referred to individually as dialed digits, and collectively the received symbol sequence is referred to as a dialed number. Analysis may show that a tone needs to be returned to the source of the dialed number. For this purpose, network digit analysis 210 has a connection to a tone-generation facility 262, which is illustratively one of the service circuits 14. Analysis may also show that the dialed number may need to be modified and then re-analyzed; for this purpose, network digit analysis 210 depends upon digit modification 230 to perform the requisite modifications. The result of the analysis is a resultant dialed number, an index (VNI) for an endpoint or feature that the caller is trying to reach, and permissions information for the call. Network digit analysis 210 supplies these to generalized route selection 220.

Generalized route selection 220 determines the feature or best-choice route to be used for the call. It uses the endpoint identifier and information obtained from time-of-day program 203 and translations and status 204 to convert the received identifier into a feature number or a routing pattern number, and then uses the pattern number to select a trunk group over which the call is to be routed. The results of the functions of generalized route selection 220 are either an invocation of a feature module 205, or a digit sending index, a selected trunk group, and information on signaling characteristics. Generalized route selection 220 supplies the route-relating results to digit sending 240.

Digit sending 240 uses the digit sending index to retrieve further information on call-establishment signaling characteristics, and the uses the full complement of the received information to define the control signals which are to be outpulsed. It makes use of digit modification 230 to convert the resultant dialed number into an outpulsed number for outpulsing. Digit sending 240 then causes connection-establishment program 202 to establish a requisite connection having the requisite characteristics over the selected trunk.

The total collection of received outpulsed control signals consists of the dialed number which may or may not be preceded by a network dial-access code (DAC). The dial-access code identifies the network that the user is attempting to reach. The absence of a dial-access code is interpreted as the selection of a default network. For example, it is common in many private multi-premise networks to initially dial a "9" or an "8" to respectively signal a desire to use the public telephone network or a private network; the absence of the "9" or "8" indicates that the dialed number refers to an extension or feature on the receiving switching system 10 itself, commonly referred to as the internal dialing plan. Or, in the public network, it is common to initially dial a "10XXX" to designate which inter-LATA carrier's network the user is trying to reach; in the absence of the "10XXX" prefix, the call is routed to a default carrier's network. In the above examples, the "9", "8" , and the "10XXX" serve as the dial-access codes. Initially, network digit analysis 210 merely converts the dial-access code or its absence into a network number which identifies to network digit analysis 210 the network which the user is attempting to use. But more commonly, this conversion may be done by a separate internal dial plan program (not shown) that may be used to interface outpulsed signal-collection program module 201 to network digit analysis 210. Every network may use a different numbering plan each having its own grammar and syntax, and hence the network number identifies to network digit analysis 210 the numbering plan that should initially be used in analyzing the dialed number.

The data structures of network digit analysis (NDA) 210 are shown in FIGS. 4-8. Network digit analysis 210 includes a plurality of network syntax trees 320. A network syntax tree 320 is a data structure whose records are organized in a hierarchical tree structure. Each network number has its own network tree 320 associated therewith. The records of a network tree 320 define the syntax of the network's dialing plan. Each network tree 320 has three types of records: a network root 310, branch nodes 311, and leafs 312. Records 310-312 are hierarchically interconnected by paths 313. Network root 310 is the entry point into network tree 320. Branch nodes 311 and leafs 312 lie in a plurality of hierarchically-organized levels that subtend network root 310. Each branch node 311 is merely a decision point within a network tree 320. Which branch node 311 within network tree 320 is reached is a function of the dialed digits. Likewise, the path 313 that is taken out of that node 311 is a function of the following dialed digits. This may include a "wild card" path 313, which is taken either when no other path 313 is specifically defined for the particular dialed digit or when subsequent dialed digits render the specifically-defined path invalid. This allows for a "default" string identifier, where no specific digits are administered for the "default" string. Each path 313 from a node 311 terminates either in another branch node 311 or in a leaf 312. The particular set of dialed digits that results in leaf 312 being reached is referred to as a string identifier. In other words, a string identifier consists of the dialed digits that are used to traverse a network tree 320 from network root 310 to leaf 312. For example, in FIG. 4, the string identifier of the leaf 312 shown on the right-hand side of the figure is "PNC". This may illustratively correspond to a particular area code in the North American public network numbering plan.

The string identifier forms the most-significant digits of a digit sequence referred to as a string. Strings are digit, or other symbol, sequences that are defined for, i.e., that have a meaning within, a network numbering plan. Thus, they are the constituent members of the network numbering plan. Each leaf 312 defines a string. Hence, each defined string has its own associated leaf 312.

As shown in FIG. 5, a leaf 312 is implemented as a database record that holds information entries 330-339 that define the associated string. The information entries held by each leaf 312 include: resolution 330, string type 331, string length 332, restart analysis 333, virtual nodepoint index (VNI) 334, continue collection option 335, tone option 336, unauthorized call control facilities restriction level (UCC FRL) 337, freeze VNI option 338, and combine VNI option 339.

Resolution 330 specifies whether leaf 312 corresponds to a call route-specifying or to a call feature-specifying string. String type 331 holds a number that identifies the string type. In the illustrative example of the North American public network numbering plan just given, string type 331 would hold a number that identifies this string type as an area code. String type 331 serves as an interface to the numbering plan grammar which is defined by the data structures of FIGS. 7 and 8. That grammar defines permissible contexts of, or relationships between, (e.g., permissible combinations and sequential orderings of) the various string types.

String length 332 specifies the permissible range of the length of the string, by specifying the maximum and minimum length-range boundaries. String length is permitted to be any range that includes (is equal to or greater than in this illustrative example) the length of the string identifier. In the illustrative example of the North American public network numbering plan just given, string length 332 would specify the same minimum and maximum length-range boundaries corresponding to a fixed string length of 10 digits (area code-3, plus office code-3, plus subscriber number-4).

Restart analysis 333 holds information that interfaces, or relates, different numbering plans to each other. It holds a digit modification index (DMI) that specifies how the dialed digits of the string should be modified. Digit modification 230 does the actual modifying, and DMI serves as a pointer to a digit modification table entry (see FIG. 14) that specifies the digit modification to be performed. Restart analysis 333 also identifies the network of re-analysis, i.e., the network number whose network tree 320 is to be used to re-analyze the string following its modification. Restart analysis 333 further specifies whether the modified string is or is not to be re-analyzed; the former is the normal condition. In the illustrative example of the North American public network numbering plan just given, if the specified area code corresponds to a private network that internally uses 7-digit numbers, restart analysis 333 holds a DMI that points to the appropriate 10-to-7 digit conversion algorithm, identifies the network number that corresponds to the subject private network, and specifies that re-analysis is to be performed.

VNI 334, the virtual nodepoint index, specifies call-feature or network-routing information for the string, in terms of an index which is used by generalized route selection 220 to find either a feature or a route for the call. It is part of an expression of the string's influence on selection of a feature or a route for the call.

Continue collection 335 indicates whether or not any additional string will or will not follow this string in the sequence of dialed numbers, by indicating whether outpulsed digit collection (performed by function 201) is to stop or is to continue after receipt of this string.

Tone 336 indicates the type of tone or other caller-perceivable signal, if any, that is to be returned as feedback to the outpulsing entity (e.g., to a user at a terminal 17) following the receipt of this string.

UCC FRL 337 specifies the permissions level that a user must have in order to be allowed to access the endpoint or service that corresponds to the string. It may be used, for example, to block certain users' access to 900-type numbers.

Freeze VNI option 338 indicates if this string is the route-determining/feature-determining string of the dialed number. If so, the VNIs of any other strings that follow this string in the dialed number will be discarded. This will be true even if freeze VNI option 338 of any of these following strings is set. It is also a part of the expression of the string's influence call feature or route selection.

Combine VNI option 339 indicates whether or not--and if so, how--the VNI of this string should be combined with the VNIs of strings that preceded this string in the dialed number. Combine VNI option 339 thus allows route selection to be progressively impacted based upon the particular strings that are identified. While any function could conceivably be employed to combine VNIs, concatenation and addition are most likely to be used. It is also a part of the expression of the string's influence on call feature or route selection.

As string length entry 332 implies, strings may be of different length, i.e., be composed of different numbers of digits. Hence, different paths 313 extending from a branch node 311 may be reached by the same dialed digit, and which path 313 is reached by the dialed digit is a function of the number of digits that were dialed. For example, as shown in network tree 320 which corresponds to network number 300, both "AB" and "ABCD" may be defined strings. Whether the second dialed digit "B" reaches a leaf 312 that defines one of the strings "AB", or merely reaches a branch node 311 that is on the path to the leaf 312 that defines the string "ABCD", is a matter of what, if anything, is dialed after the digit "B". This will be explained more fully below.

Also, identical strings may be defined in a plurality of network trees 320. Furthermore, the identical string may have the same definition or different definitions in a plurality of trees 320.

It is by means of a network syntax tree 320 that the syntax of a numbering plan is defined. To define the syntax of a numbering plan, a system administrator merely creates a network tree 320 and populates its leaf entries 330-339. To modify or expand an existing numbering plan, the system administrator merely adds branch nodes 311 and leafs 312 to network tree 320, or changes the dialed digits that correspond to particular paths 313 within network tree 320, or merely changes the information stored in one or more entries 330-339 of one or more leafs 312. The structure is completely flexible, allowing an administrator to provide any number of records that may be needed. As branch-defining and leaf-defining memory resources are needed, they are removed from a common pool of database records that represent branches and leaves, so that each network dial plan can be as complex or as simple as is necessary while using memory resources most efficiently.

The tree structure makes the analyzing of dialed digits very simple. The dialed digits are merely used one-by-one to index from root 310 down tree 320, until one or more leafs 312 are reached. The reaching of a leaf 312 means that a string in the dialed number possibly has been identified. The strings defined by the reached leaves 312 are referred to as "candidates". Candidates are checked against grammar rules defined by the data structure of FIG. 7 to determine their suitability. Subsequent dialed digits are used to select between multiple reached leaves 312. Once a single candidate leaf 312 has been selected, any subsequent dialed digits are considered to be a part of a next separate string, and the indexing process is repeated. Hence, no sorting or searching is required for digit analysis. Rather, only a predetermined maximum number of record reads--corresponding to the maximum string identifier length--is required to reach an analysis endpoint, thereby guaranteeing that the parse of any symbol string will be effected in a known maximum time period. If the numbering plan is such that leading dialed digits of numerous dialed numbers tend to be repeated (e.g., an area code and an office code might both be the same sequence of the same three digits), the storage is non-duplicative and hence is very compact. Also, string identifiers never need to be explicitly stored, thereby conserving memory space. Rather, dialed digits merely act as pointers to a sequence of database records.

In addition to having an associated network syntax tree 320, each network number has an associated exception forest 350, shown in FIG. 6. Exception forests 350 serve to identify exceptions to the string definitions found in leafs 312 of network syntax trees 320. Each exception forest 350 includes one or more exception syntax trees 360. Each exception syntax tree 360 is structured identically to a network tree 320 (as shown in FIG. 4). As with network trees 320, the network number serves to identify the corresponding exception forest 350. For efficient access, desired exception tree 360 is identified by a string type and a string length. The string type and string length which are used to index into an exception forest 350 are the contents of entries 331 and 332 of a candidate leaf 312 that has been found in network tree 320 to correspond to the string that is being analyzed.

As has already been mentioned, network digit analysis 210 further includes separate data structures that define the grammar of the network numbering plan. These are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each network number has its own sequence grammar matrix 400 of FIG. 7 and combine grammar matrix 410 of FIG. 8. Each matrix 400 (410) comprises a plurality of rows 401 (411) and columns 402 (412). Each row 401 (411) corresponds to a different one of the defined string types (331 of FIG. 5) for the network dialing plan, as does each column 402 (412). Hence, the number of rows 401 (411) and columns 402 (412) depends upon the number of defined string types. The intersection of a given row 401 (411) and column 402 (412) forms an entry 405 (entries 415 and 416) whose contents define permissible contexts or relationships between the corresponding string types.

On the one hand, an entry 405 of sequence grammar matrix 400 formed by an intersecting row 401 and column 402 defines whether the string type that corresponds to the column 402, referred to as next-received string type 404, is allowed to follow in a dialed number the string type that corresponds to the row 401, referred to as last-received string type 403. Matrix 400 thus defines permissible sequential ordering of string types within dialed numbers. The filled-in sequence grammar matrix 400 shown in FIG. 8 is illustratively populated with information that applies to the North American public network numbering plan.

On the other hand, first entry 415 of combine grammar matrix 410 formed by an intersecting row 411 and column 412 defines whether VNI 334 (see FIG. 5) of the string type that corresponds to the column, referred to as received string type 414, is allowed to be combined with VNI 334 of the string type that corresponds to the row, referred to as retained string type 413. And second entry 416 formed by the same row 411 and column 412 as first entry 415 defines the string type that is retained and associated with the combined VNI. The string type defined by second entry 416 becomes the next retained string type 413. Matrix 410 thus defines string-type combinations that can share in defining a call feature or call route. The topmost combine grammar matrix 410 shown in FIG. 8 is illustratively populated with string types of the North American public network numbering plan. For this particular plan, entries 415 take on the same values as corresponding entries 405 of sequence grammar matrix 400 of FIG. 7, whereas entries 416 take on the values of the received string type 414.

An alternative implementation of FIG. 8 may have a plurality of combine grammar matrices 410 for each network number, one for each combinational function specifiable by combine VNI options 339 of leafs 312 of network syntax tree 320 for that network number.

Returning briefly to the example of a complex call-routing structure that was used to illustrate limitations of conventional call-processing arrangements in the Background portion of this document, it may be illustratively implemented within the North American numbering plan through inclusion of the following leafs 312 in the syntax-defining data structures.

This first illustrative implementation requires a caller to dial a "1" or an interexchange carrier code (IXC) as part of origination of all long-distance calls. Syntax tree 320 of network no. "a" includes: a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "10288", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "IXC", string length 332 of "5", restart analysis 333 of "yes/network no. c", VNI 334 of "10", continue collection 335 of "yes", freeze VNI 338 of "no", and combine VNI 339 of "don't care"; a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "10333", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "IXC", string length 332 of "5", restart analysis 333 of "yes/network no. c", VNI 334 of "19", continue collection 335 of "yes", freeze VNI 338 of "yes", and combine VNI 339 of "don't care"; and a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "1", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "toll prefix"; string length 332 of "1", restart analysis 333 of "yes/network no. c", VNI 334 of "0", continue collection 335 of "yes", freeze VNI 338 of "no", and combine VNI 339 of "don't care". Syntax tree 320 of network no. "c" includes: a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "303", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "area code", string length 332 of "10", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "8", continue collection 335 of "no", freeze VNI 338 of "don't care", and combine VNI 339 of "yes"; and a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "default", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "area code", string length of "10", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "7", continue collection 335 of "no", freeze VNI 338 of "don't care", and combine VNI 339 of "yes". Additionally, exception syntax tree 360 of network no. "c" for length "10" and type "area code" includes a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "303-555-1212", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "area code", string length 332 of "10", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "99", continue collection 335 of "no", freeze VNI 338 of "don't care", and combine VNI 339 of "no". This information is summarized in the following Table B.

                                      TABLE B                                      __________________________________________________________________________     TREE                                                                           Type and               String                                                                               String                                                                             Restart   Continue                                                                             Freeze Combine                Network No.                                                                             String I.D.                                                                            Resolution                                                                           Type  Length                                                                             Analysis                                                                            VNI  Collection                                                                           VNI    VNI                    __________________________________________________________________________     SYNTAX, a                                                                               10288   route IXC    5  yes, c                                                                              10   yes   no     don't care             SYNTAX, a                                                                               10333   route IXC    5  yes, c                                                                              19   yes   yes    don't care             SYNTAX, a                                                                               1       route toll prefix                                                                           1  yes, c                                                                               0   yes   no     don't care             SYNTAX, c                                                                               303     route area code                                                                            10  no    8   no    don't care                                                                            yes                    SYNTAX, c                                                                               default route area code                                                                            10  no    7   no    don't care                                                                            yes                    EXCEPTION, c                                                                            303-555-1212                                                                           route area code                                                                            10  no   99   no    don't care                                                                            no                     __________________________________________________________________________

In an alternative implementation of the same call-routing structure, the dialing of a "1" or an (IXC) as part of origination of long-distance calls is optional. Syntax tree 320 of network no. "a" includes: a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "10288", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "IXC", string length of "5", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "10", continue collection 335 of "yes", freeze VNI 338 of "no", and combine VNI 339 of "don't care"; a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "10333", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "IXC", string length 332 of "5", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "19", continue collection 335 of "yes", freeze VNI 338 of "yes", and combine VNI 339 of "don't care"; a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "1" , resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "toll prefix", string length 332 of "1", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "0", continue collection 335 of "yes", freeze VNI 338 of "no", and combine VNI 339 of "don't care"; a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "default", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "area code", string length 332 of "10", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "7", continue collection of "no", freeze VNI 338 of "don't care", and combine VNI 339 of "yes"; and a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "303", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "area code", string length 332 of "10", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "8", continue collection 335 of "no", freeze VNI 338 of "don' t care", and combine VNI 339 of "yes". Additionally, exception syntax tree 360 of network no. "a" for length "10" and type "area code" includes a leaf 312 having a string identifier of "303-555-1212", resolution 330 of "route", string type 331 of "area code", string length 332 of "10", restart analysis 333 of "no", VNI 334 of "99", continue collection 335 of "no", freeze VNI 338 of "don't care", and combine VNI 339 of "no". This information is summarized in the following Table C.

                                      TABLE C                                      __________________________________________________________________________     TREE                                                                           Type and               String                                                                               String                                                                             Restart   Continue                                                                             Freeze Combine                Network No.                                                                             String I.D.                                                                            Resolution                                                                           Type  Length                                                                             Analysis                                                                            VNI  Collection                                                                           VNI    VNI                    __________________________________________________________________________     syntax, a                                                                               10288   route IXC    5  no   10   yes   no     don't care             syntax, a                                                                               10333   route IXC    5  no   19   yes   yes    don't care             syntax, a                                                                               1       route toll prefix                                                                           1  no    0   yes   no     don't care             syntax, a                                                                               default route area code                                                                            10  no    7   no    don't care                                                                            yes                    syntax, a                                                                               303     route area code                                                                            10  no    8   no    don't care                                                                            yes                    exception, a                                                                            303-555-1212                                                                           route area code                                                                            10  no   99   no    don't care                                                                            no                     __________________________________________________________________________

In both illustrative implementations, the grammar matrices 410 and 420 are populated as described herein in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8 for the North American numbering plan.

The functionality of network digit analysis 210, including the use of the data structures of FIGS. 4-8, is illustrated in FIGS. 9-12. Network digit analysis 210 includes two functions: a string-identification function 340 diagrammed in FIGS. 9-12, and a string-action function 341 diagrammed in FIG. 13.

String-identification function 340 identifies a string based on the dialed digits, string length, and string context (the identity, string type, of any preceding strings). It is used to recognize (e.g., identify and validate) all strings of a dialed call-control symbol sequence. It is initially invoked for a call at step 500 in response to receipt of collected digits from program 201. Function 340 accesses call record 271 (see FIG. 3) of the call to obtain stored information about the call, at step 502. Upon initial invocation of function 340 for a call, that call's record 271 is empty. No dialed digits have previously been received and stored for the call, so step 504 is a null step, and function 340 proceeds to step 506.

As was mentioned above, the dialed digits are accompanied either by a dialed access code or by a network number, and function 340 first determines from the received information the network number that is to be presently used and stores it in network number entry 252 of call record 271, at step 506. Function 340 then applies the set of dialed digits obtained at step 504 to network tree 320 that corresponds to the determined network number, at step 508. Function 340 uses the dialed digits one-by-one to select and traverse paths 313 of network tree 320. As function 340 traverses paths 313 of tree 320, it populates a stack 251 of call record 271 (see FIG. 3) for this call with candidates for the strings' identity, putting them on stack 251 in the order of their lexicographic matchability, at step 510. In other words, function 340 traverses paths 313 of tree 320 based upon the dialed digits, searching for leaves 312. Any leaves 312 that it encounters during its traverse, it places on stack 251, in the order in which they were encountered. Stack 251 is a conventional last-in, first-out buffer data structure created on a per-call basis. The most generic leaves 312, offering the most loosely-fitting definitions, are encountered first in network tree 320, so they are placed at the bottom of stack 251, while more specific leaves 312, offering the more precise definitions, are encountered later in network tree 320 and so they are placed closer to the top of stack 251. Function 340 continues to traverse network tree 320 until it either reaches a leaf 312 at the end of every possible path or until it runs out of dialed digits, whichever is first. For example, referring to FIG. 4, if the presently-used network number is "a" and the received dialed digits are "ABC", following step 510, stack 251 contents include, from the bottom of stack 251 up, the two leaves 312 reached by digits "AB", and intermediate node 311 reached by digits "ABC". On the other hand, if the received dialed digits are "ABCDE", stack 251 contents include the two leaves 312 reached by digits "AB", and leaf 312 reached by digits "ABCD". As to which of the two leaves 312 reached by digits "AB" would be lowest on stack 251 is determined by the contents of their respective string length entries 332: the shorter the string length, the more generic the definition. Hence, the leaf 312 specifying the shorter string length would be placed lower on stack 251. Function 340 also places on stack 251 any branch nodes 311 that it has reached upon running out of received dialed digits.

Returning to FIG. 9, following step 510, function 340 initializes a number-of-digits-needed entry 258 of call record 271 to some high number, e.g., infinity, at step 514. Function 340 then proceeds to candidate selection activities, at steps 516 et seq. Function 340 accesses stack 251 and retrieves therefrom the top stack entry, at step 516. If no stack entry is available because stack 251 is empty, as determined at step 518, function 340 checks a candidates-remain flag 259 of call record 271, at step 520. This flag indicates whether there is any further possibility of a string definition being found for the received dialed digits. Flag 259 is initially cleared for a call, resulting in a negative answer at step 520. Function 340 therefore causes the call to be given default treatment, such as return of a recorder tone to the caller, at step 522. Call-processing functions for the call are thus completed, and function 340 exits, at step 524.

Returning to step 518, if stack 251 is not empty, function 340 checks the retrieved top stack entry to determine whether it is a leaf 312 or a branch node 311, at step 526. If the retrieved stack entry is a branch node 311, function 340 determines from network tree 320 the number of digits that are needed to reach the nearest leaf 312 from that branch node 311, at step 528. Function 340 then compares this number against contents of number-of-digits-needed entry 258 of call record 271, at step 530. If the determined number is smaller than the contents of entry 258, function 340 sets contents of entry 258 to the determined number, at step 532. Following step 532, or if the check at step 530 shows that the determined number is not smaller than the contents of entry 258, function 340 discards the retrieved stack entry, at step 536, and returns to step 516 to retrieve the next stack 251 entry.

Returning to step 526, if the retrieved stack entry is a leaf 312, function 340 checks whether string type 331 of retrieved leaf 312 satisfies the requirements of the sequence grammar, at step 534. Function 340 performs this check by accessing sequence grammar matrix 400 of the network number held by network number entry 252 of call record 271. Function 340 then applies contents of string type 331 of retrieved leaf 312 as next-received string type 404 to that matrix 400, and applies the contents of a last-received string type entry 255 of call record 271 as a last-received string type 403 to that matrix 400. Function 340 then examines the corresponding entry 405 of matrix 400 to determine whether it contains an affirmative or a negative response. If list-received string type entry 255 is empty, this string is the first string to be received for the call, and so the requirements of the sequence grammar must be satisfied thereby. Therefore, any candidate string corresponding to a subscriber number would be discarded in the case of the North American numbering plan. If the response obtained at step 534 is negative, function 340 discards retrieved leaf 312, at step 536, and proceeds to step 516 to retrieve the next stack entry. But if the response obtained at step 534 is affirmative, function 340 proceeds to the steps of FIG. 11.

Returning to step 520 of FIG. 9, if function 340 finds candidates-remain flag 249 of call record 271 set, it proceeds to the steps of FIG. 10. Function 340 checks whether contents of number-of-digits-needed entry 258 of call record 271 is zero, at step 580. If so, function 340 sets a short (e.g., 3 second) inter-digit timer 261 associated with outpulsed signal-collection module 201 (see FIG. 3), at step 582, and directs module 201 to collect one digit, at step 584. If contents of entry 258 are not found to be zero at step 580, function 340 sets a long (e.g., 10 second) inter-digit timer 260 associated with outpulsed signal-collection module 201 (see FIG. 3), at step 586, and directs module 201 to collect the number of digits indicated by contents of entry 258, at step 588.

Timers 260 and 261 indicate to program 201 the maximum amount of time that is allowed to elapse between the dialing of individual digits by a user. Long inter-digit timer 260 is set at times when the user's failure to dial more digits would result in a logical error and hence the giving of default treatment to the call. Conversely, short inter-digit timer 261 is set at times when it is permissible for the user to have completed dialing, and therefore it is not desirable to wait for the long period of time before responding to the user's input.

Following step 584 or 588, function 340 stores the previously-received dialed digits in dialed digits entry 253 of call record 271 for future use after the requisite number of digits has been collected and returned by module 201, at step 590. Function 340 then returns, at step 592.

Module 201 responds to the digit-collection request by attempting to collect the requested number of digits. If long inter-digit timer 260 has been set and collection of more than one digit was requested, upon the receipt of each digit, module 201 resets long inter-digit timer 260. If program 201 collects the requested number of digits without the set one of the inter-digit timers 260 and 261 having expired, it re-invokes function 340 at step 500 of FIG. 9 and passes it the additional collected digit or digits. If long inter-digit timer 260 expires prior to program 201 having collected the requested number of digits, program 201 re-invokes function 340 at step 500 and passes it whatever number of digits it has collected along with notification that long timer 260 timed out. If short inter-digit timer 261 has been set and expired prior to module 201 having collected the requested one dialed digit, module 201 re-invokes function 340 and returns a notice of short timer 261 timeout.

Returning to FIG. 9, upon its re-invocation at step 500, function 340 retrieves call record 271, at step 502, and concatenates any just-received collected digit or digits with the previously-received collected digits for the call which it had stored in entry 253 at step 590 of FIG. 10. Function 340 then proceeds to steps 506 et seq. to re-populate stack 251 with candidates for the string definition and to try and select a candidate therefrom.

Returning to step 534, if the check there reveals that string type 331 of leaf 312 that has been retrieved from stack 251 does satisfy the requirements set forth in sequence grammar matrix 400 of FIG. 7, function 340 proceeds to the steps of FIG. 11. Function 340 first checks whether the dialed digits could possibly satisfy the retrieved leaf's length requirement as specified by string length 332 of that leaf 312, at step 550. This determination is made by checking whether the number of received dialed digits falls within or exceeds the range specified by string length 332, or whether the number of received dialed digits falls below the range specified by string length 332 but no indication has been received that outpulsed digit collection has ended (such as the caller having dialed an "end-of-dialing" signal, e.g., a "#"). If it is determined that the dialed digits could not possibly satisfy the leaf's length requirements, function 340 returns to step 536 of FIG. 9 to discard the retrieved leaf 312 and then proceeds to step 516 to retrieve the next stack entry.

If it is determined at step 550 that the dialed digits could possibly satisfy the retrieved leaf's length requirements, function 340 checks whether the dialed digits do in fact satisfy those requirements, at step 552. This determination is made by checking whether the number of received dialed digits falls within or exceeds the range specified by string length 332 of retrieved leaf 312. If not, function 340 determines how many additional digits are required to satisfy the leaf's string length requirements, at step 554, and compares this number with the contents of number-of-digits-needed entry 258 of call record 271, at step 556. If the number of additional digits needed to satisfy the leaf's length requirements is smaller, function 340 sets contents of number-of-digits-needed entry 258 to that number, at step 558. Following step 558, or if the number of additional digits needed to satisfy the leaf's length requirements is not smaller than the contents of entry 258, function 340 sets candidates-remain flag 259 of call record 271, at step 560, and then returns to step 536 of FIG. 9 to examine other stack 251 entries.

Returning to step 552, if it is determined that the dialed digits do satisfy the leaf's length requirements, function 340 checks, at step 562, whether it had received a notice of long inter-digit timer 260 timeout at its invocation. If so, function 340 proceeds to FIG. 12. If the answer to the check at step 562 is "no", function 340 checks, at step 564, whether it had received a notice of short inter-digit timer 261 timeout at its invocation. If so, function 340 checks, at step 566, whether the number of dialed digits exactly equals the length requirement of the retrieved leaf 312. The only way that the number of dialed digits can exactly equal the length requirement is if the string-length range specified by string length 332 of retrieved leaf 312 is one and its range boundaries equal the number of dialed digits. If the answer at step 566 is "yes", function 340 proceeds to FIG. 12. If the answer is no, function 340 returns to step 536 of FIG. 9.

Returning to step 564, if it is there determined that function 340 was not invoked in response to timeout of short inter-digit timer 261, function 340 checks whether candidates-remain flag 259 of call record 271 is set, at step 568. If not, function 340 proceeds to FIG. 12; if so, function 340 sets contents of number-of-digits-needed entry 258 of call record 271 to zero, at step 570, and then returns to step 536 of FIG. 9.

Turning to FIG. 12, it shows the activities that string identification function 340 performs to determine whether an exception tree 360 candidate leaf should be substituted for candidate leaf 312 selected from network tree 320. Function 340 uses the network number stored in network number entry 252 of call record 271 to select an exception forest 350 (see FIG. 6), at step 800. It then uses string type 331 and string length 332 entries of selected candidate leaf 312 to select an exception tree 360 from selected exception forest 350, at step 802. Finally, function 340 applies the string of received dialed digits to selected exception tree 360, at step 804, in the same manner as was described for step 508 of FIG. 9, to determine if tree 360 contains an exception leaf 312 that corresponds to this string, at step 806. If there exists an exception leaf 312 that corresponds to this string, function 340 selects it as the candidate for the string instead of leaf 312 that had been selected in FIGS. 9-11, at step 808. Following step 806 or 808, function 340 stores contents of string type 331 of whichever leaf 312 is selected in last-received string type entry 255 of call record 271, at step 810. Function 340 then invokes string-action function 341 of FIG. 13, at step 812, passes to it the presently-used network number, the string, and the selected leaf 312, and returns, at step 814.

Upon being invoked, at step 900 of FIG. 13, string-action function 341 examines entries 330-339 of the received leaf 312 to determine what needs to be done, at step 902. If a feedback signal (tone in this example) is specified by tone entry 336 to be given to the user, at step 904, function 341 causes a tone generation 262 service circuit (see FIG. 3) to give the specified tone to the user, at step 906. If restart analysis entry 333 of leaf 312 contains a digit modification index (DMI), it indicates that digit modification is specified, at step 908, so function 341 invokes digit modification 230, at step 910. As part of the invocation, function 341 passes to digit modification the received string, and the DMI from entry 333 of received leaf 312. Function 341 then awaits the receipt of the digit-modification result, at step 912.

Digit modification 230 comprises a data structure shown in FIG. 14 and a function shown in FIG. 15. The data structure is a table 1000 of entries 1001 which are accessed by a received DMI 1020. Each entry comprises three fields 1010-1012. Delete digits range field 1010 specifies the range of digits, if any, in terms of digit positions within the received string, which is to be deleted from the string. Insert digits range field 1011 specifies the range of digits, if any, in terms of digit positions within the received string, which are to be inserted, and insert digits field 1001 specifies the actual digits that are to be inserted.

Upon its invocation, at step 1100 of FIG. 15, a digit modification function 342 uses DMI 1020 which it received as part of its invocation to find and access a particular entry 1001 of table 1000, at step 1102. It then performs the modifications specified by the accessed entry 1001 on the string which it received as part of its invocation, at steps 1104 and 1106. Function 342 then returns the modified received string to whoever requested the modification, at step 1108, and exits, at step 1110.

Returning to FIG. 13, function 341 receives the modified string, at step 914, and stores it in dialed digits entry 253 of call record 271 instead of the string that it had received at step 900, at step 916.

If restart analysis entry 333 of candidate leaf 312 does not contain a DMI, as determined at step 908, or following storage of the modified string at step 916, string action function 341 proceeds to steps 918 et seq. to calculate a VNI for the call. Function 341 checks if a "frozen" indicator 257 of call record 271 of the call (see FIG. 3) has been set, at step 918. If so, computation of the VNI for the call has been frozen, so no VNI calculation remains to be done and function 341 proceeds to steps 950 et seq. If the call record's "frozen" indicator 257 is not set, function 341 checks combine VNI entry 339 of the received leaf 312 to determine if it is set, at step 930. If it is also not set, function 341 stores the contents of VNI entry 334 of leaf 312 in call VNI field 254 of call record 271, at step 934, discarding in the process any VNI that has previously been stored in VNI field 254. Function 341 also stores the contents of string type entry 331 of leaf 312 in retained string type field 255 of call record 271, at step 946. Function 341 then proceeds to step 948.

Returning to step 930, if combine VNI entry 339 of candidate leaf 312 is set, function 341 checks whether the combine grammar allows the combining to be done, at step 932. Function 341 performs this step by accessing combine grammar matrix 410 (see FIG. 8) of the network number held by network number entry 252 of call record 271. Function 341 then applies contents of string type 331 of the received leaf 312 as a received string type 414 to that matrix 410, and applies the contents of retained string type entry 256 of call record 271 as a retained string type 413 to that matrix 410. Function 341 then examines the corresponding entry 415 of matrix 411 to determine whether it contains an affirmative or a negative response. If retained string type entry 256 of call record 271 is empty, this string is the first string to be received for the call, and so combining is always disallowed, as there is nothing to combine with. If the response obtained at step 932 is negative, function 341 proceeds to step 934. If the response obtained at step 932 is affirmative, function 341 combines any VNI stored in VNI field 254 of call record 271 with contents of VNI entry 334 of received leaf 312 in the manner specified by combine VNI entry 339, at step 940. Function 341 then stores the resultant VNI in VNI field 254 of call record 271, at step 942, discarding in the process the previous contents of VNI field 254. Function 341 also retrieves the new string type that is to be retained and associated with the VNI produced at step 940, at step 944. Function 341 performs this step by proceeding as for step 932, but instead of examining entry 415, it accesses the corresponding entry 416 to obtain therefrom the retained string type. Function 341 then stores the retrieved retained string type 416 in retained string type entry 256, at step 945, and then proceeds to step 948.

At step 948, function 341 checks freeze VNI entry 338 of received leaf 312 to determine if its indicator is set. If so, it means that VNIs of subsequently-received strings are not to affect the call's VNI. Function 341 therefore sets "frozen" indicator 257 of call record 271, at step 949, to prevent contents of call VNI entry 254 from being changed. Function 341 then proceeds to step 950. If freeze VNI entry 338 of received leaf 312 is not set, function 341 proceeds directly to step 950.

At step 950, function 341 checks whether restart analysis entry 333 of received leaf 312 indicates that the modified string obtained at steps 912-914 is to be re-analyzed. If so, function 341 checks whether restart analysis entry 333 specifies a new network number, at step 952. If so, function 341 stores this new network number in network number field 252 of call record 271, at step 954. Following step 954, or if a new network number is not specified at step 952, function 341 re-invokes string identification function 340, at step 958, passing it back the modified string, any new network number, and any indication that dialing has been completed. Function 341 then returns to the point of its invocation, at step 960.

Returning to step 950, if it is found there that re-analysis is not to be performed, function 341 checks, at step 970, whether continue collection entry 335 of received leaf 312 indicates that the just-received string is to be followed by another string in the dialed number. If so, the job of network digit analysis is not yet done, and function 341 re-invokes outpulsed signal-collection module 201 to prompt it to collect more digits, at step 974. But if entry 335 indicates that the just-received string is not to be followed by another string in the dialed number, the job of network digit analysis 210 is done, and function 341 invokes generalized route selection 220, at step 972, and passes it the modified dialed number now stored in dialed digits entry 253 and the call VNI entry 254 of call record 271. Following step 974 or 972, function 341 exits, at step 976.

Generalized route selection (GRS), 220 is shown in FIGS. 16-19. The data structures of GRS 220 are shown in FIGS. 16-18. GRS 220 includes a pair of multi-dimensional (in this illustrative example, four-dimensional) matrices 1200 and 1202 of FIG. 16. Route matrix 1200 is populated with routing pattern numbers 1201, while feature matrix 1202 is populated with feature numbers 1203. The index into matrices 1200 and 1202 is a multi-element entity having one element for each matrix dimension. For the example of four-dimensional matrices of FIG. 16, the matrix index illustratively comprises: call VNI 254, a time-of-day routing plan 1230, a conditional routing count 1231, and a tenant partition 1232. Call VNI 254 is obtained by GRS 220 from NDA 210. Time-of-day routing plan 1230 is conventional and is obtained by GRS 220 from a conventional time-of-day program 203 (see FIG. 3). Conditional routing count 1231 is also conventional and is obtained by GRS 220 either as a trailing digit to a dialed number from an incoming call trunk 16, or from translations 204 (see FIG. 3) that are associated with the trunk group of an incoming call trunk 16 or terminal line 15. Tenant partition 1232 is likewise conventional, and is obtained by GRS 220 from translations 204 that are associated with calling station 17 or incoming call trunk 16. Call VNI 254 is determinative of which one of the two matrices 1200 and 1202 is accessed by the index. Any desired contextual parameters may be used as elements of the multi-dimensional matrix.

A feature number 1203 obtained for a call from feature matrix 1202 identifies the one of feature modules 205 (see FIG. 3) which should be invoked. Alternatively, a feature number 1203 obtained from matrix 1202 may be used as an element of an index into feature pattern tables, similarly to how routing pattern numbers 1201 are used, as described below.

A routing pattern number 1201 obtained for a call from matrix 1200 serves as a pointer to one of a plurality of routing pattern tables 1300 of FIG. 17. Each routing pattern table 1300 has a plurality of entries 1301 each one of which defines a routing preference. The routing preferences are listed in each table 1300 sequentially in the order of their relative preference. The following call characteristics illustratively serve as criteria for selecting a particular routing preference, i.e., entry 1301 of a table 1300: a facilities restriction level (FRL) 1330, a tenant partition 1232, a bearer capability 1331, a toll permission 1332, an ISDN required/preferred 1333, and a DCS required/preferred 1334. The most-preferred preference that meets these criteria and also meets the additional requirement 1335 of having a circuit free and available to carry the call, is selected for the call.

FRL 1330 is conventional and is obtained by GRS 220 either as a trailing digit to a dialed number from an incoming call trunk 16 or from translations 204 (see FIG. 3) that are associated with the originating station 17 or the trunk group of the incoming call trunk 16. Tenant partition 1232 is the same as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 16. Bearer capability 1331 is also conventional and is obtained by GRS 220 either from ISDN messaging that accompanies an incoming call on a trunk 16, or as a default value from translations 204 of either incoming trunk 16 or originating station 17. Toll permission 1332 is likewise conventional and is obtained by GRS 220 from translations 204 of originating station 17 or the incoming call trunk 16. Whether routing over ISDN facilities is required or preferred 1333 is also a conventional item of information and is obtained by GRS 220 either from translations 204 of originating station 17 or is derived from messaging that accompanies a call on the incoming call trunk 16. DCS required/preferred 1334 specifies whether a requested feature is a distributed communications feature (DCS) that requires routing over facilities providing feature transparency between switches in a network (for a description of feature transparency, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,004). The information is obtained by GRS from a station-to-station calling feature module. Finally, circuit availability 1335 is determined from line 15 and trunk 16 status records of translations and status 204.

Routing preference 1301 that is selected for a call on the basis of the above-described criteria defines the preferred route for the call and is used by GRS 220 to route the call. An illustrative routing preference 1301 is shown in FIG. 18. It comprises a plurality of information fields 1401-1406. Trunk group number 1401 specifies the group of trunks 16 over any one of which the call may be routed. Sending requirements 1402 specifies how called number information that will accompany the call is to be sent, such as: is a pause required before sending digits, must the system listen for dial tone before sending digits, do digits need to be grouped with pauses, and do individual digit groups get sent via dial pulses or Touch-Tone pulses. Toll information 1403 is a table of exceptions that specifies toll-free telephone numbers for this trunk group. ISDN sending format 1404 specifies which information element (IE) of ISDN messages is to be used for interexchange calls, and the kind of a number (based on CCITT specifications) that will be sent in the IE. Alternatively, both toll information 1403 and ISDN sending format 1404 may be implemented as indexes into associated tables. Digit modification index (DMI) 1405 specifies how the received dialed number is to be modified before being sent out. It is the equivalent of the DMI discussed in conjunction with restart analysis entry 333 of leaf 312 of FIG. 5. And digit sending index (DSI) 1406 is an index for use by digit sending 240 in defining additional digit sending criteria for the call. It will be discussed further in conjunction with digit sending 240.

Generalized route selection function 343 is shown in FIG. 19. Upon being invoked, at step 1500, function 343 proceeds to obtain time-of-day routing plan 1230, conditional routing count 1231, and tenant partition 1232, at step 1502. Function 343 then uses the obtained information along with call VNI 254 as a four-pronged index into multi-dimensional matrices 1200 and 1202, at step 1504, and retrieves the indexed entry 1201 or 1203 from the addressed one of the matrices 1200 and 1202, at step 1506. Function 343 then examines the retrieved matrix entry to determine whether it is a routing pattern number 1201 or a feature number 1203. If the retrieved entry is a feature number 1203, function 343 invokes the corresponding feature module 205, at step 1540, and passes it the modified dialed number that was received at step 1500. Function 343 then exits, at step 1542.

Returning to step 1507, if the retrieved matrix entry is a routing pattern number 1201, function 343 proceeds to obtain FRL 1330, bearer capability 1331, toll permission 1332, ISDN required/preferred 1333, and DCS required/preferred 1334, at step 1508. Function 343 then accesses the one routing pattern table 1300 that is pointed to by the retrieved routing pattern number 1201, at step 1510, and uses the obtained information along with previously-obtained tenant partition 1232 to search the accessed pattern table 1300 for a suitable preference 1301, at step 1512. If a suitable preference 1301 is found, as determined at step 1514, function 343 checks translations and status 204 to determine whether a circuit in that preference 1301 is available for the call, at step 1516. If no circuit is available, function 343 returns to step 1512 to search for another suitable preference 1301. If a circuit is available, function 343 retrieves the preference 1301 information, at step 1518.

Returning to step 1514, if no suitable preference 1301 is found, function 343 retrieves information defining a default preference 1301, at step 1520. Following step 1518 or 1520, function 343 checks DMI 1405 of the retrieved preference 1301 to determine if digit modification is specified thereby, at step 1522. If DMI 1405 is null, no digit modification is required, and function 343 proceeds to step 1530. If DMI 1405 is not null, digit modification is required, and so function 343 invokes digit modification function 342 of FIG. 15, at step 1524. As part of the invocation, function 343 passes to digit modification function 342 the modified dialed number that it received at step 1500 and the contents of DMI 1405. Function 343 then awaits receipt of the digit-modification result, at step 1526.

Digit modification function 342 responds in the manner discussed in conjunction with FIG. 15. When it returns a resultant dialed number to function 343, at step 1528, function 343 proceeds to step 1530.

At step 1530, function 343 invokes digit sending 240, and passes the resultant dialed number (which could be the modified dialed number received at step 1500 if no additional digit modification was specified at step 1522) and retrieved preference 1301 as parameters. Function 343 then exits, at step 1532.

Digit sending 240 is shown in FIGS. 20-22. It comprises a sending table 1700 of FIG. 20 and a digit sending function 344 of FIG. 22. Sending table 1700 has a plurality of sending entries 1701 each one of which is a set of digit-sending information. Sending entries 1701 are indexed by DSIs 1406. An illustrative sending entry 1701 is shown in FIG. 21. It comprises a plurality of fields 1801-1808. Sending number 1801 specifies the number that should be sent out instead of the received resultant dialed number, when sending number 1801 is null, the received resultant dialed number is sent. Toll prefix 1802 specifies the toll indication, if any--such as "1"--that is to be sent with the number. It also specifies whether the toll prefix is to be sent only with toll calls or with all calls. Interexchange carrier code (IXC) 1803 specifies whether the "10XXX" carrier I.D. code, if any, is to be sent out for the call. Dial-access code (DAC) 1804 specifies whether the DAC, if any, that is to be sent out for this call. DAC has been discussed above in conjunction with NDA 210. End-of-dialing character 1805 specifies, whether an end-of-dialing character, e.g., "#", is to be sent at the end of the send-out number. Each field 1802-1805 also specifies the following options for that field's information type: do not send that information type even if it was dialed by the caller; always send the contents of the field even if that information type was not dialed by the caller; and send the information dialed by the caller if the caller dialed the information type, otherwise send the contents of the field. Group digits 1806 specifies whether--and if so, how long--pauses should be used to separate groups of sent digits, and the digit-sending mode (e.g., rotary or pulse) for those groups. ISDN message type 1807 specifies the type of ISDN message that is to be used to send the number. And traveling class mark (TCM) 1808 reflects the call's FRL and conditional routing count, and specifies the zero or more TCMs that are to be sent along with the number.

FIG. 22 charts the operation of digit sending function 344. Upon being invoked, at step 1900, function 344 uses DSI 1406 of received preference 1301 as an index into sending table 1700, at step 1902, and retrieves from table 1700 the indexed sending entry 1701, at step 1904. Function 344 then uses translations and status 204 associated with the trunk group that is specified by field 1401 of received preference 1301 to determine if it is an ISDN trunk group, at step 1906. If so, function 344 creates ISDN messages that are necessary to set up a call path according to information contained in preference 1301, and populates their information fields with information specified by sending entry 1701, at step 1908, in a conventional manner. Function 344 then causes connection-establishment module 202 to set up the desired call path by sending the ISDN messages across a trunk 16 of the trunk group specified by field 1401 of preference 1301, at step 1910, again in a conventional manner. Once the requisite call path is set up, the tasks of world-class routing 200 are completed, and function 344 exits, at step 1930.

Returning to step 1906, if the specified trunk group is not an ISDN trunk group, function 344 checks field 1806 of retrieved sending entry 1701 to determine if digits are to be grouped, at step 1920. If so, function 344 causes connection-establishment module 202 to set up the call path using a first digit group and the digit-sending mode specified by field 1806 of retrieved sending entry 1701, at step 1922, in a conventional manner, by using the information contained in preference 1301 and sending entry 1701. Function 344 then causes connection-establishment module 202 to send the remaining digit groups separated by pauses of length specified by field 1806 of the retrieved sending entry 1701 and using the specified digit-sending mode, at step 1923. Function 344 then exits, at step 1930.

Returning to step 1920, if digits are not to be grouped, function 344 causes connection-establishment module 202 to set up the call path using the digit-sending mode specified by field 1806 of retrieved sending entry 1701, at step 1924, again in a conventional manner, by using the information contained in preference 1301 and sending entry 1701. Function 344 then exits, at step 1930.

The preceding description is deemed adequate for an understanding of the illustrative embodiment of the invention by those skilled in the art. However, for completeness, further reference may be had to the following appendices A-C. These appendices provide more extensive information concerning implementational details of the illustrative embodiment.

Of course, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the illustrative embodiment described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, additional parameters can be included in the GRS matrices which cause the VNI to be converted into a routing pattern number. Or, additional parameters can be included in the GRS routing pattern tables and be associated with preferences to aid in the final preference selection. Also, additional string types and grammar rules for string type relationships can be defined. Additionally, a plurality of permissible string lengths may be defined for a given string type, and the use of alphanumeric and other characters within strings may be allowed in addition to digits. Furthermore, exception trees' contents may be incorporated into the main network syntax trees. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that all such changes and modifications be covered by the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A call-processing arrangement for use in a switching system of a telecommunications network having a network numbering plan and wherein callers supply sequences of symbols to specify treatment that is to be given to calls, each sequence comprising at least one symbol string that is defined for the numbering plan of the network, comprising:programmable means for holding information for each defined symbol string specifying each symbol string's individual influence on call treatment within a context of other symbol strings, the programmable means for holding information for each symbol string defining each of (a) the symbol string's context-independent influence on call treatment, (b) whether the symbol string's context-independent influence is to be combined with the influence of a preceding symbol string in a call-control symbol-sequence, and (c) whether the symbol string's context-independent influence is to be combined with the influence of a succeeding symbol string in the call-control symbol sequence, the programmable means being reprogrammable to change the specified influence; means responsive to receipt of one of the symbol sequences, each individual symbol string included in the received symbol sequence having a context formed by other symbol strings included in the received symbol sequence, for identifying the individual included symbol strings and their contexts; means for applying the identities and the contexts of the individual included symbol strings to the information presently held by the programmable means to determine the influences of the individual included symbol strings on the call treatment of the call; and means for selectively combining the context-independent influences of the included strings defined by the held information as dictated for the included strings by the held information to define the call treatment to be given to the call.
 2. A call-processing arrangement for use in a switching system of a telecommunications network having a network numbering plan and wherein callers supply sequences of symbols to specify treatment that is to be given to calls, each sequence comprising at least one symbol string that is defined for the numbering plan of the network, comprising:programmable means for holding information defining each defined symbol string and including information specifying each symbol string's individual influence on call treatment within a context of other symbol strings, the programmable means for holding a plurality of entries for each individual symbol string, including a first entry having a call-treatment identifier, a second entry indicating whether the call-treatment identifier of the first entry is to be combined with a call-treatment identifier resulting from any symbol string preceding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, and a third entry indicating whether a call-treatment identifier resulting from the individual symbol string is to be combined with a call-treatment identifier of any symbol string succeeding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, the programmable means being reprogrammable to change the specified influence; means responsive to receipt of one of the symbol sequences, each individual symbol string included in the received symbol sequence having a context formed by other symbol strings included in the received symbol sequence, for identifying the individual included symbol strings and their contexts; means for applying the identities and the contexts of the individual included symbol strings to the information presently held by the programmable means to obtain from the programmable means the entries for the identified included symbol strings in order to determine the influences of the individual included symbol strings on the call treatment of the call; and means for combining the call-treatment identifiers contained in the retrieved first entries in a manner defined at least in part by the retrieved second and third entries to form a resultant call-treatment identifier that specifies the treatment to be given to the call.
 3. A call-processing arrangement comprising:data storage means for storing contents defining a syntax and a grammar of a network numbering plan that comprises a plurality of defined symbol strings, the contents that define the syntax comprising definitions of individual ones of the symbol strings of the network numbering plan, each definition including an identifier of the symbol string as being of one of a plurality of string types, a virtual nodepoint index (VNI) for influencing selection of a treatment to be given to a call, an indication of whether the VNI is to be combined with a VNI resulting from any symbol string preceding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, and an indication of whether a VNI resulting from the individual symbol string is to be combined with a VNI of any symbol string succeeding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, and the contents that define the grammar comprising a combine grammar matrix having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns, each row corresponding to a different symbol string type and each column corresponding to a different symbol string type, the rows and the columns indicating at each intersection whether VNIs of the string types that correspond to the intersecting row and column are permitted to be combined so as to both influence selection of the treatment to be given to the call; parsing means connected to the data storage means and responsive to receipt of a sequence of symbols associated with a call for parsing the received symbol sequence by using the contents of the data storage means, to identify in the symbol sequence at least one symbol string of the network numbering plan; and means connected to the data storage means and to the parsing means and responsive to an identity of the identified at least one symbol string of the network numbering plan for specifying a treatment to be given to the call, by using the contents of the data storage means, including first means for indicating whether a VNI resulting from any identified symbol string preceding an individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence has been frozen, second means responsive to the first means indicating that the resulting VNI has been frozen for using the resulting VNI to specify the treatment to be given to the call, and responsive to the first means indicating that the resulting VNI has not been frozen for determining from the definition of the individual identified symbol string whether the VNI of the individual identified symbol string is to be combined with the resulting VNI, third means responsive to the second means determining that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are not to be combined for making the VNI of the individual identified symbol string a new said resulting VNI, and responsive to the second means determining that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are to be combined for applying to the rows and the columns of the combine grammar matrix a string type determined by said any identified symbol string preceding the individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence and the string type of the individual identified symbol string, to determine whether the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are permitted to be combined. fourth means responsive to the third means determining that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are not permitted to be combined for making the VNI of the individual identified symbol string a new said resulting VNI, and responsive to the third means determining that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are permitted to be combined for combining the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string and making the combined VNIs a new said resulting VNI, fifth means responsive to the first means indicating that the resulting VNI has not been frozen for determining from the definition of the individual identified symbol string whether the VNI resulting from the individual identified symbol string is to be combined with a VNI of any identified symbol string succeeding the individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence, and sixth means responsive to the fifth means determining that the resulting VNI is not to be combined with a VNI of any identified succeeding symbol string for causing the first means to change its indication.
 4. The arrangement of claim 3 whereinthe treatment-specifying means further comprise: seventh means responsive to the individual identified symbol string being a last identified symbol string in the symbol sequence, for using the VNI resulting from the individual identified symbol string to specify treatment to be given to the call.
 5. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein:the rows and the columns of the combine grammar matrix further indicate, at least at each intersection which indicates that the VNIs of the string types that correspond to the intersecting row and column are both permitted to be combined, the string type retained upon combination of the VNIs of the string types that correspond to the intersecting row and column; the third means include seventh means for indicating a retained string type resulting from any identified symbol string preceding the individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence, and eighth means for applying to the rows and the columns of the combine grammar matrix the retained string type indicated by the seventh means and the string type of the individual identified symbol string, to determine whether the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are permitted to be combined and to determine the retained string type resulting from the individual identified symbol string; and the fourth means include ninth means for causing the seventh means to indicate the retained string type determined by the eighth means.
 6. The arrangement of claim 3 whereinthe second means comprise: contents in the data storage means listing a plurality of call treatments; and means connected to the data storage means, for applying the resulting VNI to the contents which list the call treatments to select therefrom the treatment to be given to the call.
 7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein a call treatment comprises at least one of a feature and a route for the call.
 8. A call-processing method for use in a switching system of a telecommunications network having a network numbering plan and wherein callers supply sequences of symbols to specify treatment that is to be given to calls, each sequence comprising at least one symbol string that is defined for the numbering plan of the network, comprising the steps of:receiving one of the symbol sequences, each individual symbol string included in the received symbol sequence having a context formed by other symbol strings included in the received symbol sequence; identifying the individual symbol strings included in the received symbol sequence and their contexts; applying the identities and the contexts of the individual included symbol strings to a reprogrammable programmed arrangement, which holds information for each defined symbol string specifying each defined symbol string's present individual influence on call treatment within a context of other symbol strings and defining each of (a) the symbol string's context-independent influence on call treatment, (b) whether the symbol string's context-independent influence is to be combined with the influence of a preceding symbol string in a call-control symbol-sequence, and (c) whether the symbol string's context-independent influence is to be combined with the influence of a succeeding symbol string in the call-control symbol-sequence, to determine from the information presently held by the reprogrammable programmed arrangement the present influences of the individual included symbol strings on the call treatment of the call; and selectively combining the context-independent influences of the included strings defined by the presently-held information as dictated for the included strings by the presently-held information to define the call treatment to be given to the call.
 9. A call-processing method for use in a switching system of a telecommunications network having a network numbering plan and wherein callers supply sequences of symbols to specify treatment that is to be given to calls, each sequence comprising at least one symbol string that is defined for the numbering plan of the network, comprising the steps of:receiving one of the symbol sequences, each individual symbol string included in the received symbol sequence having a context formed by other symbol strings included in the received symbol sequence; identifying the individual symbol strings included in the received symbol sequence and their contexts; applying the identities and the contexts of the individual included symbol strings to a reprogrammable programmed arrangement which holds information defining each defined symbol string and including information specifying each defined symbol string's present individual influence on call treatment within a context of other symbol strings, the reprogrammable programmed arrangement having a plurality of entries for each individual symbol string including a first entry having a call-treatment identifier, a second entry indicating whether the call-treatment identifier of the first entry is to be combined with a call-treatment identifier resulting from any symbol string preceding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, and a third entry indicating whether a call-treatment identifier resulting from the individual symbol string is to be combined with a call-treatment identifier of any symbol string succeeding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, to obtain from the reprogrammable programmed arrangement the entries for the identified included symbol strings in order to determine from the information presently held by the reprogrammable programmed arrangement the present influences of the individual included symbol strings on the call treatment of the call; and combining the call-treatment identifiers contained in the retrieved first entries in a manner defined at least in part by the retrieved second and third entries to form a resultant call-treatment identifier that specifies the treatment to be given to the call.
 10. A call-processing method comprising:in response to receipt of a sequence of symbols associated with a call, parsing the received symbol sequence by using stored definitions of a syntax and a grammar of a network numbering plan that comprises a plurality of defined symbol strings, the stored definitions of the syntax comprising definitions of individual ones of the symbol strings of the network numbering plan, each definition including an identifier of the symbol string as being of one of a plurality of string types, a virtual nodepoint index (VNI) for influencing selection of a treatment to be given to a call, an indication of whether the VNI is to be combined with a VNI resulting from any symbol string preceding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, and an indication of whether a VNI resulting from the individual symbol string is to be combined with a VNI of any symbol string succeeding the individual symbol string in a symbol sequence, and the stored definitions of the grammar comprising a combine grammar matrix having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns, each row corresponding to a different symbol string type and each column corresponding to a different symbol string type, the rows and the columns indicating at each intersection whether VNIs of the string types that correspond to the intersecting row and column are permitted to be combined so as to both influence selection of the treatment to be given to the call, to identify in the symbol sequence at least one symbol string of the network numbering plan; and in response to identification of at least one symbol string of the network numbering plan in the symbol sequence, specifying a treatment to be given to the call by using the stored definitions, including the steps of indicating whether a VNI resulting from any identified symbol string preceding an individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence has been frozen, in response to an indication that the resulting VNI has been frozen, using the resulting VNI to specify the treatment to be given to the call, in response to an indication that the resulting VNI has not been frozen, determining from the definition of the individual identified symbol string whether the VNI of the individual identified symbol string is to be combined with the resulting VNI, in response to a determination that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are not to be combined, making the VNI of the individual identified symbol string a new said resulting VNI, in response to a determination that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are to be combined, applying to the rows and the columns of the combine grammar matrix a string type determined by said any identified symbol string preceding the individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence and the string type of the individual identified symbol string, to determine whether the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are permitted to be combined, in response to a determination that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are not permitted to be combined, making the VNI of the individual identified symbol string a new said resulting VNI, in response to a determination that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are permitted to be combined, combining the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string, in response to the combining, making the combined VNIs a new said resulting VNI, in response to an indication that the resulting VNI has not been frozen, determining from the definition of the individual identified symbol string whether the VNI resulting from the individual identified symbol string is to be combined with a VNI of any identified symbol string succeeding the individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence, and in response to a determination that the resulting VNI is not to be combined with a VNI of any identified succeeding symbol string, causing a change in the indication of whether the VNI resulting from any identified preceding symbol string has been frozen.
 11. The method of claim 10 whereinthe step of specifying a treatment includes the further step of: using the VNI resulting from the individual identified symbol string to specify treatment to be given to the call, in response to the individual identified symbol string being a last identified symbol string in the symbol sequence.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein:the rows and the columns of the combine grammar matrix further indicate, at least at each intersection which indicates that the VNIs of the string types that correspond to the intersecting row and column are both permitted to be combined, the string type retained upon combination of the VNIs of the string types that correspond to the intersecting row and column; the step of applying includes the steps of indicating a retained string type resulting from any identified symbol string preceding the individual identified symbol string in the symbol sequence, and applying to the rows and the columns of the combine grammar matrix the indicated retained string type and the string type of the individual identified symbol string, to determine whether the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are permitted to be combined and to determine the retained string type resulting from the individual identified symbol string; and the step of making the VNI of the individual symbol string a new said resulting VNI in response to a determination that the resulting VNI and the VNI of the individual identified symbol string are not permitted to be combined, includes the step of causing a change in the indication of the retained string type to the retained string type determined from the combine grammar matrix in the step of applying.
 13. The method of claim 10 whereinthe step of using the resulting VNI to specify the treatment to be given to the call comprises the step of: applying the resulting VNI to stored information listing a plurality of call treatment to select therefrom the treatment to be given to the call.
 14. The method of claim 13 whereinthe step of applying the resulting VNI comprises the step of: applying the resulting VNI to stored information listing a plurality of at least one of features and routes for calls to select therefrom at least one of the listed features and routes for the call. 